Rheumatoid Arthritis

Published on: February 1, 2022

The Link between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hypothyroidism

A recent study reviewed the link between rheumatoid arthritis and the risk of developing hypothyroidism. Results showed a significantly higher risk in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

The results of the study were published in Medicine recently. The researchers focused on the effect of comorbidities on hypothyroidism. They found that older women with rheumatoid arthritis had a risk of developing hypothyroidism at a rate of 3.6 times more frequently than for women with no history of rheumatoid arthritis. Women had a three times higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis compared to men of the same age. The risk of developing hypothyroidism increased with age. The odds were 12 in 1,000 in the 20- to- 39 age group. This risk increased to 20 per 1000 in people above the age of 60.

Hypothyroidism can cause a number of side effects such as cardiac arrhythmia, mood changes, extreme fatigue and other effects that can make it difficult for you to go to work and earn an income. If you suffer from hypothyroidism, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. A diagnosis by itself will not be sufficient for you to qualify for disability benefits. Your symptoms must be severe enough to interfere with your ability to earn a sustainable income.

Published on: July 16, 2018

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Depression

By Lisa Siegel

While there are ways to manage the physical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, including the chronic pain, not as easy is the task of diagnosing and managing the mental conditions that are often associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

According to one study that was published in Rheumatology and Therapy, as many as 30% of people who have a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis go on to suffer from depression within five years after the diagnosis. A chronic condition like rheumatoid arthritis means chronic pain, inconvenience, and that in turn, can prevent an individual from performing many of the activities that he or she used to perform earlier.

If you enjoyed an active life earlier, you may find it much more difficult to adjust to the limited mobility and movement brought on by rheumatoid arthritis. Active people may find it difficult to get used to the fact that they may no longer be able to participate in sports or enjoy the kind of physical or recreational activities that they used to earlier. For obvious reasons, that lack of physical mobility leads to low self-esteem, irritability, and even depression.

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Published on: July 2, 2018

Obesity, Low Weight May Impact Rheumatoid Arthritis

By Lisa Siegel

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Patients who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis may suffer from an acceleration of their symptoms if they put on an excessive amount of weight or lose too many pounds.

According to new research, obesity and low weight both have an adverse impact on symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers focused on obesity and its crippling effects on the already very painful symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Interestingly enough, they found that severe weight loss also worsened symptoms.

According to the researchers, very often, doctors may mistakenly attribute worsening of the symptoms to the actual arthritic condition, and not to the patient’s weight. The researchers are calling on doctors to look out for severe weight loss or weight gain when they treat symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

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Published on: May 21, 2018

Higher Chronic Disease Risk for Children of Mothers with Rheumatoid Arthritis

By Lisa Siegel

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Children born to mothers who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis may have a much higher risk of suffering from chronic diseases. That information comes from a new study which found that fetuses that are exposed to symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis while still in the womb, may have a higher risk of developing a high sensitivity to certain chronic conditions.

In a study recently published by the Arthritis Care and Research Journal, researchers reviewed 2100 Danish children born to mothers with rheumatoid arthritis between 1989 and 2013. The study found that children of mothers who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis during their pregnancy were at a higher risk of chronic disease compared to children of mothers who did not suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers focused on 15 kinds of diseases, including epilepsy, asthma, and other diseases that are chronic in nature. The most severe risks seemed to involve chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, epilepsy, thyroid conditions, asthma, and anxiety.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis typically begin in the joints, and spread around the body. A person who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis may suffer from inflammation, swelling and pain in the knees, hips, joints, feet, shoulders and hands. Other symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, tiredness, and fevers. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may find that their joints become deformed over a period of time.

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